Meet Our Staff
A great program starts with great staff. Here at Southeast Journeys, we introduce:
Linda Tatsapaugh, Director
MS in Child and Youth Care Administration, Nova SE University;
BA in Religion, Davidson College
Linda has directed Talisman programs since 2001. Prior to that, she worked at Stone Mountain School from its inception in 1991 as a counselor, program director, and admissions director. She is an instructor in first aid, CPR, life-guarding, and crisis management, and is a tree-climbing facilitator. She hiked the Appalachian Trail in 1990, is chairperson of the National Association of Therapeutic Wilderness Camps, and is the mother of an 8-year-old-son, Gable.
Michael W. Thompson, Program Manager
B.A. in Sociology, Muskingum College
Michael joined the Talisman Southeast Journeys semester school in 2007, bringing with him a wealth of experience working with youth. He has previously held the positions of field counselor and senior instructor with Stone Mountain School in Black Mountain, NC. Michael has also worked as an ongoing intervention caseworker with Muskingum County Children Services, working with adjudicated youth through the Muskingum County Juvenile Courts. Michael spends his spare time backpacking, climbing, and mountain biking with his dog Tripps, and is an accomplished foosball player.
Jennifer Salkewicz, Kitchen Manager
AA in Culinary Science, AB-Tech
After five years of working at 5-star restaurants such as The French Laundry and Redd, Jenny returned to her home state of North Carolina to work at Talisman's Southeast Journeys semester program. While she enjoyed her experience working at some of the finest restaurants in the country, she came to Talisman to focus on introducing her healthy living philosophy to our students with special needs. Jenny's favorite aspect of her job is helping students build independent living skills in the kitchen. Despite all of the wonderful meals she cooks, Jenny's favorite Talisman meal so far is the homemade chicken pot pie.
Brandon Raab, Academic Program Teacher
BA in English and Science Education, University of Georgia
Brandon has worked with Aspen Education Group for the past six years. He spent two years as a head field instructor with SUWS of the Carolinas, 3.5 years teaching at Stone Mountain School, and joined the Southeast Journeys teaching team this semester. He is ESL certified and has taught at schools in Ecuador as a science teacher and in Guatemala as an English teacher. Brandon's hobbies include international travel, fly fishing, camping, and working with SOL International Foundation, which he co-founded, in Roatan, Honduras. Brandon brings with him a belief that all children are capable of learning in the right setting and with the right guidance.
Jamie Bailey, Southeast Journeys Wilderness Trip Director
Jamie has planned and led wilderness trips with special needs students for the past seven years. He worked as residential care staff and a senior counselor at Stone Mountain School, and as a trips teacher at Southeast Journeys. Jamie brings tremendous wilderness experience to our school, which comes from a childhood spent in the outdoors of Georgia, hiking the 2,150-mile Appalachian trail in 2000, and seven years of leading wilderness expeditions. When not at work, Jaime enjoys bowling, gardening, and hiking with his dog Gabbett.